Q: If I give my son his father's last name but the father isn't on the birth certificate, does he have rights to the baby?
A: The surname of the baby has no relation to parental rights. The father does have rights to have contact with the baby (barring significant health/safety concerns). He will also have financial obligations towards the child (i.e. child support). The parties can agree to do nothing, but either party can file a court claim until the child reaches majority for custody/support. Not listing the correct father (or any father) on the birth certificate can introduce a paternity issue to a potential court claim, but with DNA the correct father will likely be found.
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